Columns & Conversation

Yabangee has had a number of columns through the years…

In Conversation with Denizalp Şimşek, Soloist of Siyah Tavşan Band

Recently, Yabangee had a delightful conversation with the talented young musician Denizalp Şimşek, composer and singer of alternative rock band “Siyah Tavşan”. Their upcoming event “Radiohead Tribute Night” will...

In Conversation with Soraya Raeispour, Counseling Psychologist and Psychotherapist

We first had the pleasure of meeting Soraya Raeispour in 2016, when she arrived in Istanbul with boundless enthusiasm, ready to embark on a...

Storyteller of the Verses: Bilingual Poet Pelin Batu

Born in 1977 Pelin Batu is a Turkish actress, historian and a bilingual poet. She studied Literature and Drama in New York University and...

Retrospective – ATÖLYE hosts IDEO Asia – “Inspiring Asia: Learnings from...

ATÖLYE hosts IDEO Asia for a talk titled "Inspiring Asia: Learnings from IDEO’s Work in the Region." The event takes place on Thursday 7...

In Conversation with Şebnem Erçelik of Shibu Design

Attention jewelry lovers! Meet Şebnem Erçelik of Shibu Design. Şebnem designs creative pieces that capture the vitality, culture and spirit of Istanbul. To see...

Take 5: Üsküdar (Merkez Edition)

When I moved to Üsküdar 3 years ago it was still vilified as a conservative and religious neighborhood with virtually no social life. Over...

Walk Across Turkey: Luxury in Nazilli

It was lunchtime when I arrived in Nazilli, population about 120,000. I walked up to the first restaurant I saw and ordered a lunch...

Big Burn Istanbul: A New Hope in this Fiery Festival

Music festivals are essential to the very fabric of a quality Istanbul summer -- a yearly reminder of the city's appeal to international artists,...

Lost in Turkey: Lake Bafa

This little pocket of salty sea water trapped inland by ancient sediment accumulation has managed to retain all of its Aegean culture, with a...

In Conversation with Gökmen Ercişi and Bige Dalkılıç, Food Project Moda

Last weekend, I came to one of my new favorite organic shops in Kadıköy in a small corner next to a typical Turkish pastane...

RX: Istanbul’s Central, Electric Nightclub for ‘Rhythm Xposure’

In a city buzzing with nightlife, the electronic music scene is a changing tapestry as the nightclubs of Istanbul past ebb and evolve into...

Accessible, Riveting and Totally Radical: Catch Ai Wei Wei’s “On Porcelain”...

“If you love your country, you become a criminal,” celebrated and controversial Chinese artist Ai Wei Wei said during an artist talk when his...

How Bazaar: Istanbul’s Best Markets

When one thinks of shopping in Istanbul, there’s one particular place that usually springs to mind. The city’s most famous market, the Grand Bazaar,...

Chinese Man Brings their Sound Back to Babylon

Chinese Man dropped by Istanbul on Saturday as part of their international Shikantaza tour, which has included shows in Mexico, Canada, China, and Europe...

Behind the Scenes at the IKSV 38th Istanbul Film Festival: Daily...

Festival Talk with Lynne Ramsay The Festival is proud to host esteemed filmmaker Lynne Ramsay as the president of this year’s International Competition Jury. A...

Star-studded Chamber Music with Kopatchinskaja, Gabetta, Leschenko

Among all the fine music and impressive artists that are and have been part of the 43rd IKSV Music Festival this month, there was...

(PAST EVENT) Creative Business Cup Istanbul (Deadline: April 9)

Creative Business Cup is a unique, yearly competition that is powered by the biggest international creative professional network: Creative Business Network. The Creative Entrepreneurship and Economy...

In Conversation with FLYING roots, Curatorial Collective and Creators of the...

On March 19, 2015, the MUSEUM OF GARBAGE opened its doors to a crowd of creative thinkers, activists and curious individuals. The space, a...

In Conversation with Artist Doug Russell (Part 1)

In 2008 I visited Turkey for the first time as a student from the University of Wyoming.  Together with nine of my classmates, I...

Letter from Istanbul: Anlaşma (or ‘The Arrangement’)

When I first arrived in Istanbul, nearly ten years ago, I found a room for rent in Kadıköy. It was on a narrow street...

Bizim Hikaye: ‘Shameless,’ Minus the Shame

It can be revealing, if moot, to compare an original series to an adaption, especially in terms of culture. But what stands out immediately upon...

Escaping the Rain as Com Truise Returns to Salon IKSV

On a rainy Wednesday night in Şişhane, Istanbul, I walked into Salon IKSV for the second time in my life. It was for the...

Take 5: Gayrettepe (Relaxation Edition)

Gayrettepe is often overlooked because it is located between some pretty famous neighborhoods like Ortaköy, Nişantaşı, Beşiktaş, and Levent. But I’ve called this centrally-located...

ATÖLYE Spotlight: In Conversation with Oki Kasajima, Freelance Designer

Going on a four year honeymoon isn't really the type of thing you plan for, but it's exactly what happened to freelance designer Oki...